Andre Agassi Says He Would “Absolutely Not” Do What Kaepernick Is Doing

The tennis champ speaks out.

Breaking news here at Made Man: Eight-time Grand Slam tennis champion Andre Agassi says he would “absolutely not” stay seated during the playing of the national anthem, as San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has done prior to his team’s preseason games this year, including last Friday’s contest against the Green Bay Packers.

After the game, Kaepernick explained to reporters that he sat because he didn’t want to show pride in a country that oppresses people of color—and later told reporters that he plans to keep sitting during “The Star Spangled Banner” until there’s “significant change.”

Speaking to Made Man this morning at a promotional event for Lavazza coffee, Agassi was asked if he had an opinion on Kaepernick’s decision.

“Listen, everybody’s responsible for their own actions, right?” Agassi said. “So, is it something I would do? Absolutely not.”

Agassi himself has a history of protest. From 1988 to 1990, Agassi chose not to play at Wimbledon due to the event’s traditionalism, particularly its predominantly white dress code for players. In 1991, he returned to play at Wimbledon in an all-white outfit, reaching the quarterfinals.